ADVERTISEMENT GREAT REWARD OFFERED.

A SINGULAR person is now, and has been for a long time, travelling through the land, who raises the wonder of all that behold him. Some think him a mad-man or a demoniac – others consider him a harmless man, who never cheats or deceives any other. A third class view him more inspired by the Holy Ghost, than the prophets or apostles were. Another sect believe that he was the first and greatest creature that God ever made, and that, by a delegated powever, he does mighty works. But some contend, that from his names, Emanuel, the everlasting Father, the true God, the only wise God, eternal life, the I AM, Jehovah, the Lord God of the holy prophets, God over all; and from his works of healing the sick, raising the dead, ruling the winds and waves, knowing the thoughts and hearts of all men, meeting with, and blessing ten thousand congregations of saints scattered over the world at the same minute, that he must be God essential, possessing omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.

The person here advertised, like a wayfaring man, is always travailing round in the world, but never misses his way, by day or by night. His clothing sometimes appears mean as swaddling clothes, and at other times, like a vesture dipped in blood; sometimes clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle, so white and shining that no fuller on earth can equal it, called the garment of salvation, and the robe of righteousness. When he travels on his way, his manner is to knock at every man’s door, but make no forcible entry. Sometimes, when he finds the door locked against him, by his strange talent, and great benevolence, he puts in his hand by the hole of the door, and moves the bolt back; after which he is always received as a welcome guest. When. ever the door is freely opened, he enters, whether the occupant is king or beggar, and sups with him; promising them that they shall sup with him in a house above, which he has prepared for them. His deportment is dignified and meek, his addresses to all in his way are neither false nor flattering, but in sound words that cannot be contemned; in which he instructs the ignorant, warns the rebellious, detects the hypocrite, abases the proud, comforts the mourners, heals the broken hearted, and exalts the humble. In these addresses, his friends say, that never man spake like him. In his flesh-marks, he is fairer than the sons of men, yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; his visage was so marred, more than any man. That the scriptures might be fulfilled, he was taken by his enemies, and received five bleeding wounds: they pierced his hands, his feet, and his aide. Those gaping wounds he retained a number of days after his return from the lower regions, to give incontestible proof that he was flesh and bones, and was no spirit – that he was the same person that his friends had been intimate with before he went down to the grave; but it is hard to believe that he has now wounds or scars in that state of glory which he had before the world began.

Now if any person, by diligent search, has found him who is here described, and has opened his house to receive him – his heart to love him – his mind to obey him, and his mouth to confess him, he shall have a rich reward; which comprises food of the first quality, meat, which shall endure unto everlasting life, the flesh of the Passover Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world, and many rich dainties; drink of the living fountains of water, which proceed out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, which makes glad the city of our God, together with the juice of the pomegranate and the spiced wine: bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure; he shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more. His clothing shall be fine linen, white and clean, being washed in the blood of the Lamb. The dress within shall be all glorious, being a meek and quiet spirit, which, in the sight of God, id of great price, called the clothing of humility. His outward dress shall be of wrought gold, and when he is brought before the king, his raiment shall be of needlework. His dwelling shall be in a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; in the city that bath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; even on Mount Zion, the city of the living God; he shall be a pillar in the temple of God, and go no more out. His possessions shall be the fatness of the earth, and the dew of heaven, a land that flows with milk and h money – the glory of all lands – a goodly mountain and Lebanon – a pleasant land – a goodly heritage, the title of which is sure, and the increase a hundred fold; known by the name of Beulah. His riches shall be pure gold – silver, seven times refined, and pearls of immense value. His companions shall be the only excellent ones of the earth; a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; the jewels and royal diadems of Jehovah, the spirits of just men made perfect, and an innumerable company of angels. He shall be delivered from all his bonds, his sins shall be forgiven, his debts paid, his crimes pardoned, his prison opened, and he shall be free indeed.

His equipage (when he follows him that is faithful and true, whose garment is dipped in blood,) shall be elegant; he shall ride upon a white horse, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and shall be attended by twenty thousand chariots of angels, who are all ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation.

He shall, moreover, be adopted into the family of the King of Kings and be called and treated as a Son of God, and a joint heir with Jesus Christ; he shall be a king and priest to God and the Lamb, and live and reign with Christ forever; having his name written in the book of life, and the seal of the living God written in his forehead.

This is the reward that shall be given to the man who finds him of whom Moses and the prophets did write, and receives and treats him according to his character. Let all such rejoice and be exceeding glad, for GREAT IS THEIR REWARD IN HEAVEN.

Elder John LelandPublished in 1836

The Writings of The Late Elder John LelandPublished originally in 1845Pages 680 – 682

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Mal. 3:6)